Three-dimensional assessment of two-dimensional technique for evaluation of right ventricular function by tricuspid annulus motion.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Measurement of tricuspid annulus motion (TAM) is an easy way to estimate right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). However the accuracy of two-dimensional (2-D) methods for analyzing the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of the tricuspid annulus has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the accuracy with which 2-D measurements of TAM reflect RVEF using 3-D reconstructions of the heart at end diastole (ED) and end systole (ES). METHODS: 2-D echocardiographic studies were performed on 12 subjects and used to reconstruct the RV and tricuspid annulus in 3-D at ED and ES. Measurements of TAM from medial and lateral positions on the annulus were selected from the standard echocardiographic apical four-chamber view. The minimum and maximum possible TAM values, RV volumes, and movement of the apex of the heart along the trajectory of TAM were calculated from the 3-D reconstructions. RESULTS: TAM correlated highly with RVEF (r > or = 0.90). Values found by 2-D and 3-D techniques were not significantly different. Correcting TAM for apex motion did not improve correlation. Summation of medial and lateral TAM data increased correlation values slightly relative to lateral TAM alone. Regional aberrant contractility degraded the predictive value of TAM. CONCLUSION: Estimation of RVEF from 2-D echo measurement of TAM is accurate, especially when medial and lateral TAM are summed, except in patients with severe apical RV dysfunction.

Author information

Author/s: Smith, Jordan L (JL); Bolson, Edward L (EL); Wong, Selwyn P (SP); Hubka, Michal (M); Sheehan, Florence H (FH);

Affiliation: Cardiovascular Research and Training Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The international journal of cardiovascular imaging (Int J Cardiovasc Imaging), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jun; vol 19 (issue 3) : pp 189-97

Dates: Created 2003/07/01; Completed 2003/12/11; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 12834155, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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